We entered the throne room.
Full court had been gathered and it was full with nobles and other hangers on. Celestia sat on her throne, beautiful as a sunrise.
I ignored the nobles, following the soft carpet down the middle before I stepped and lit my horn, slipping my cloak off as I bowed, spreading my wings, “Princess Celestia.”
“Prince Page,” she answered with a smile and bowed back slightly in her seat, “Welcome to Canterlot. And you as well, my students,” she continued and looked at Twilight and Sunset.
“Thank you, Princess,” I said as we stood back up, “It is good to be back again.”
Celestia smiled and nodded before she looked out across the ponies, “Court is adjourned for today. Everypony is dismissed.”
There were some grumbling, but everypony started to file out.
As the doors closed behind the last of the noble ponies, Celestia moved down from her throne to pull Sunset and Twilight into a tight hug, her wings wrapping around them.
Sparks giggled, “It’s only been a couple of weeks!” she protested but hugged back just as tightly.
“I’m still allowed to miss my favorite students,” Celestia told her before gently letting go, “How was your journey?”
“It was fine,” Sunset said and sighed softly, “Just long and boring.”
Celestia nodded and gave her a small nuzzle between the ears, “You can borrow a royal carriage on the way back, should at least give you some more room and some privacy,” she said with a smile before she sighed and raised her head, “Now, I need to talk to Page alone, if you don’t mind.”
Twilight shook her head, “We need to get everything organized and loaded onto the airship,” she said and looked to Sunset, “Let’s get going, I want it all done before tonight.”
Sunset nodded in agreement before she looked at me, “See you at the tower after?”
I nodded and they left along with everypony else. Well, almost everypony else. I had no doubt that Amber was hiding somewhere and there would be at least a couple of Guards outside the throne room.
I sighed softly and folded my cloak up, looking up at her, “Anything new come up?” I asked her.
Celestia shook her head, “Not yet,” she admitted before she looked at me, taking half a step closer, “But I am… worried,” she admitted, “I don’t like sending you over there.”
“Sunshine,” I said with a small smile, “It was literally your idea. And we did talk about this already.”
“Not quite, the griffons asked for you by name,” she said and fluffed her wings, “And I know, I don’t have anything specifically to point at, but it makes me wary.”
I flicked one ear, “You have been to Nocturnis, you really think I’m safer there?”
“I think you might be,” Celestia said seriously before she sighed, “It’s just… I don’t distrust the griffons. They are our allies. But the Yeti…”
“Hmm,” I agreed and nodded, standing up again and frowning, “There is that,” I admitted, “but I’m hardly going alone. Besides, I don’t think the Storm King is dumb enough to try something. He knew what would happen and even if he somehow managed to take me down, he would have my wife to worry about.”
“Perhaps,” Celestia admitted and sighed softly.
Then there is you, Sunshine. And Sparks.
The end result would be a matter of state. And I’m fairly sure the state of that matter would be plasma.
“No,” I continued, “I don’t think he’s quite that dumb. Nobody that managed to conquer that much land is a complete idiot.”
Celestia nodded, “I may be worrying for nothing, I just got thinking after last time we talked,” she admitted, “I do know you can take care of yourself, Page. And you will have ponies that can help with you.”
“But you still worry.”
“Of course I worry!” Celestia exclaimed, her wings rising high as she glared at me.
I turned to face her fully, raising my wings in turn as I met her eyes, “And what does Luna think?”
Celestia sighed and her wings folded again, “My sister is worried as well.”
I took half a step closer, “if you tell me not to go, I won’t,” I told her seriously as I looked up at her, almost nose to nose, “The griffons can handle things on their own.”
“...No,” Celestia admitted and sighed softly, “It may stop a war.”
“How about this?” I asked and smiled up at her, “I promise to stop by every night. If I don’t, you can have the entire Solar Guard come get us. We didn’t bring Spike or Talon or we could have sent daily messages too, but…”
She nodded, “That does make me feel a bit better,” she admitted with a small smile before she shook her mane, “Enough of this, it’s been a long journey and I know you want to go wake my sister.”
“I do,” I admitted and then smiled, “But first… do I win our bet?”
Fairly sure most ponies would have missed her expression. She looked completely unbothered. Other than a slight tint of red on the inside of her ears.
“You did,” she said calmly, her wings fluffing slightly again, “You were right, it was quite good.”
“Would you like a sequel?” I asked with a smile as we started towards the rear of the throne room, “Because I’m sure I could figure something out.”
Sunshine shifted her wings, “I appreciate that,” she admitted, “I would like to know what happens with Bright Sun and Dark Sky.”
“I’ll make sure it’s nice and interesting. Anything you especially liked about it?” I asked as we reached the corridor outside.
Celestia hesitated for a split second, “I liked the characters,” she admitted, “There are some books with a thestrals, but they are rarely one of the main characters. And him rescuing the pegasus mare was a nice twist. It’s usually the other way around.”
“What did you think about Bright Sun?” I asked with a smile, looking up at her.
Celestia smiled back at me, her wings shifting slightly as she fluffed her feathers, “I liked her coloration. White and pink is… distinctive.”
“I thought you would.”
She took a deep breath and then shook her head, “I’ll send up all the information we have so it’s ready for when you leave tomorrow, I’m sure Twilight at least will have some ideas about it. But for now, I think you have things you rather do than read about politics,” she said with a smile.
I suppose she was right about that.
Oh for.... just bed Celestia already Page!!!
At this point the sun will burn out before these two get together
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Friggin seriously; good grief, these two could beat around the bush through the heat death of the universe!
bright sun, kinda on the nose page, dontcha think?
here's to hoping page doesn't fuck it up day one
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Consummate politician, schooled over more than a millennia in maintaining a public face and containing her own desires... and the stallion that has broken the Clue-by-four Mk 1-3... and looking like he needs the Mk 4.
It's a match made in heaven. Well, at least it will be when the heat death of the universe actually happens.
Very smooth Page
So... That reader question is done. Now only some other remain. How are for example his two Guard Buddys? Swift and Thunder Cloud. Or is one stationed in Nocturnis?
After the meeting perhaps meet his old friends that happen to benares for a tea?
Wait...he only knew of their colors when they were young only recently by a dream about the past.
Did she tell him that at some point or he guessed it?
Celestia: "Page, I would like to discuss that new book of yours, in depth"
Page: "Oh, was there something wrong with it?"
C:"Just some Plot Holes that need to be filled"
P:"Really? I thought I'd managed to catch most of those during editing. I'm sorry, I'll have to..."
C(RCV): "JUST GET OVER HERE ALREADY! WE'RE GONNA RECREATE THE BIG BANG!!!"
P:"Huh? Oh. OOOOoooooooh......... I'm confused, are we still talking about the book?"
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I was wondering what you two were going on about the heat death of the universe.
I always thought it was called The Big Freeze, or The Big Chill.
I love the subtlety between Celestia and Page, I feel like their relationship is going to remain more private than the others.
I seriously love this story / saga! Usually my attention would have waned a long time ago but your stories somehow keep dragging me back for more!
I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!
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Earlier story, Page was getting quite upset at all of the doomsday catastrophes just sitting around waiting to happen, and asked her if she was blonde before her ascension, she told him about it shortly afterwards.
Consequences
Chapter 22
Did Page bring some Ninja Maids with him?
So far Luna ,and presumably Twilight, had the most normal relationship build ups, with Sunset in third due to how they met and their fun friendship.
And then there's Celestia, innuendos for days and writing self insert porn for her. Yup that's definitely how most relationships start.
Page: Any particular requests? Perhaps a new love interest added to the dynamic? An earth pony...or maybe somepony rainbow haired instead?
Celestia: PAGE! That was a joke from YEARS ago...I wasn't being serious!
Page: ...well?
Celestia: .......yes. A mare like that would certainly work with the plot..
Page: Of course! For the sake of the...plot...
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But we already have winged ponys in the herd...
And all of them are horny if not horned.
A snuggflbug or a Griffon would be a nice change of pace... With a Changeling ylu can have em all anyway.
Monday: Pony
Next time: Griffon
Next time: Zebra
... Seapony,Hypogriffon, Yak,Dragon...
Breezee? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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...who said Rainbow Dash would stay a pegasus in the sequel?
*me imagines a techicolor Amazonian earth pony mare*
Yeah, the relationship with Celly and Page has gotten to the "We are actively avoiding talking about it, but we both knows it exists" stage.
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By Law Princesses can have 12 Consorts. There a lot of space left. Goddess... I love re-reading storys for details like that...
Did they ever get around to contacting the changeling hive near the griffons? Seems like that could come up due to Page’s changeling guards.
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Big gay
I like this line
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Kind of proud of that one myself
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I may have just missed something but, what does that software have to do with this story? Or anything relating to it?
Seriously, those two need to get together before Cadance has an aneurism.
Thankfully Celestia was talking to the dumbest person in the universe so Page noticed nothing.
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Yep. 48 if you count Celestia's, Luna's, and Twilight's consort rights seperate with Page's.
(BTW Rainbow Dash was originally a earth pony in Gen 3 so Amazonian mare? TOTALLY WORKS!)
Nice
Hmm, that boat with the sun emblem and blank page on its side...
Is it finally time to sail?
Here we go, we finally get the reveal of the book's reception! Also, old 'Tia is letting her age show again.
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Heat death is the scientific term, it's the same as the colloquial 'big freeze'. Not heard 'big chill' used before, but that might be a regional thing.
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Everyone knows the best relationships start with threats of stabbing! :p
Double grammar jackboot today unfortunately:
'it' needs capitalisation.
The 'a' is out of place for a plural followup.
Page better dont forget to visit Silver Leaf & Grass Flower ones he returns to Canterlot.
Best case scenario:
"The griffons asked for Page for some slightly underhanded advantage in their negotiations with the yeti, by showing them that they are allied with 'The Bringer of Nightmares' or whatever Page is called by the yeti"
True
But at the same time I have to say this: "No one with an ego that big will take being humiliated like he was very well"
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No. Best case scenario is they invited him because they like the BBQ he makes.... :)
Sunset and Sparky need to read that piece of horse smut... :D And be made aware that it was for Celestia... ;] I want to see the looks on their snouts. :D
Also, I really enjoy the little gestures of open warmth and affection. I think they're the true drive behind this story, at least for me. It's not what's going on, but rather what happens inbetween everything else - a look here, a nuzzle there, a little bit of crafty double entendre... An evening of warmth and just lazing around. This is what the story feels like, to me - sitting down in front of a fire, with hot choco and marshmallows, and having a nice read.
Hah, scary yet true.
Also, in the words of Cadance in regards to Celly and Page:
Just buck already!!
This is by far one of the best quotes Ive read in this series.
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Yus
Are we talking about the state of the Griffins if they mess with Page, or the state of the bed when they FINALLY decide to just WHY ISN'T THERE A CENSOR BAR BIG ENOUGH FOR THIS?!?! AND HOW DID THEY GET THAT UP THERE?!?!? AND . . .I . . YOU . . .BU . . .WHA?!?!?Twilight's brain explodes
If they managed to seriously hurt this guy, they'd soon (though briefly) play host to five pissed alicorns, three pissed unicorns, and a hive of pissed changelings.
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Not to mention an unknown number of pissed bats, a tember wolf, two dragons.
And worst of all Fluttershy
I predict there will be a changeling envoy as well to make contact with the Griffon hive.
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And one Discord. I can't imagine what one pissed off God of chaos could do. Discord is Whimsical not malicious we have never seen what he can do when he acts out of harmful spite
Discord would be the "and we have a Hulk"
How to get to Celestia's heart.
Step 1. Write smut in her glory.
Step 2. ???
Step 3. Profit.
Well, that was dumb.
2Indeed.
🦉 Who.